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Can we have an oscilloscope forum? — Parallax Forums

Can we have an oscilloscope forum?

turbosupraturbosupra Posts: 1,088
edited 2010-04-22 13:00 in General Discussion
It'd be nice to have, with gen1 and gen2 subforums?

Comments

  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2009-12-16 23:28
    My vote is no. The forums are already spread out quite a bit, and adding one more forum will just make it worse IMHO much like some sites that have 50 forums, none of which are used. The Hydra forum is rarely used, and people often post links to posts there in the the Propeller forum.

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  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2009-12-17 06:43
    Oh boy, I must be wishy-washy at this stage. I was pretty convinced that we needed to add a PropScope forum until SRLM surprised me. He's a seasoned Parallax veteran and experienced netizen, so he's got a solid grip on whether or not this would work well. Now I'm not sure!

    Ken Gracey
    Parallax Inc.
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2009-12-17 15:30
    SRLM may have a valid point, but I'd prefer a scientific approach to this. [noparse]:)[/noparse]
    (I'm a vote for a Propscope thread.)

    To be fair, let use both the Hydra/Games & the new Sensors thread and
    monitor the "Views" count of the first page of messages for a day or two.

    Attached is a snapshot of the both at 10:30am 12/17/09

    OBC

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    New to the Propeller?

    Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.

    Post Edited (Oldbitcollector) : 12/17/2009 3:38:17 PM GMT
    hydra.JPG
    1024 x 768 - 172K
    sensors.JPG
    1024 x 768 - 157K
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-12-17 19:21
    How about a compromise? We get a lot of posts (spread across many forums) about test equipment and design tools (CAD software, etc.) in general — what to buy, how to use, etc. A Test Equipment and Design Tools forum might not be unreasonable.

    -Phil
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2009-12-17 19:59
    I will add a bit more support to my argument using the Sparkfun forums and Arduino forums as examples. I know that they are not the same as the Parallax forums, but they are comparable (technical topics for popular companies/products).

    forum.sparkfun.com/index.php
    www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl (BTW, I assume this is the "official" Arduino forum since it is the link from the first google result)

    To start with the Sparkfun forum. Ignoring all the other forums (which is valid, because I'm trying to find the dead forums) and just looking at three forums, we see the oldest post on the first list page of threads was made on:

    Wireless/RF - Nov 25
    PCB Deal Details - May 11
    GPS - Oct 13

    The Arduino forums appear to be slightly less dead:

    workshops - Nov 19
    Bar Sports (aka, sandbox) - Dec 10
    Hardware Bugs - Nov 7

    A couple side notes. Each forum has their own number of posts to display per page, and some forums are more focused. The arduino forum, for example, is entirely for one microcontroller just with different forums for different aspects. Parallax has four different microcontrollers, and six forums (the titled forums, Stamps in Class, and Hydra) for the microcontrollers. Also, based on the Arduino workshops forum it appears that the community is very large and very active world wide. Not that Parallax isn't active and world wide, but it hasn't achieved the same level of penetration IMHO.

    Perhaps an interim solution would be to wait a month, and watch to see how many threads on the Propscope pop up. So far, there appears to be about half a dozen threads (I haven't counted, just from what I have seen) the most prominent of which is the thread by BADHABIT in the Propeller forum. Anyway, if there are lots of threads about hacking the Propscope then perhaps it could use a new forum. My main concern is that the current hype will fade away with time while people get used to the Propscope and use it plain vanilla, and as all the bugs get worked out.* Then where will the Propscope forum be?

    *BTW, I don't have a Propscope yet. I'm waiting until I have enough funds and needs to justify the new tool. Just thought I would put my words in context.

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    Powered by enthusiasm
  • turbosupraturbosupra Posts: 1,088
    edited 2009-12-17 20:16
    Having "too many forums" is not a valid argument IMO for something that does not have a place and absolutely needs to have a forum or "place".


    Looking at things from the other way, where should oscilloscope questions go?

    It may be built in the propeller chip, but there are a ton of questions to be asked, that have nothing to do with the chip itself, so it doesn't make sense to have all questions in the propeller forum.

    So to vote no against it, then at least tell me where do you think all oscilloscope questions should go? There should be a centralized location. I myself had a heck of a time using my old oscilloscope (gen1) and was very very frustrated, because there was very little reference material for me to search through and find answers to questions ... and there are a lot of questions to be asked about the logging features as well as log files, and software features and "Can the oscope do this" questions.

    Honestly I really don't know how you can't have a separate forum for this? Unless you merged it with an existing forum?




    SRLM said...
    I will add a bit more support to my argument using the Sparkfun forums and Arduino forums as examples. I know that they are not the same as the Parallax forums, but they are comparable (technical topics for popular companies/products).

    forum.sparkfun.com/index.php
    www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl (BTW, I assume this is the "official" Arduino forum since it is the link from the first google result)

    To start with the Sparkfun forum. Ignoring all the other forums (which is valid, because I'm trying to find the dead forums) and just looking at three forums, we see the oldest post on the first list page of threads was made on:

    Wireless/RF - Nov 25
    PCB Deal Details - May 11
    GPS - Oct 13

    The Arduino forums appear to be slightly less dead:

    workshops - Nov 19
    Bar Sports (aka, sandbox) - Dec 10
    Hardware Bugs - Nov 7

    A couple side notes. Each forum has their own number of posts to display per page, and some forums are more focused. The arduino forum, for example, is entirely for one microcontroller just with different forums for different aspects. Parallax has four different microcontrollers, and six forums (the titled forums, Stamps in Class, and Hydra) for the microcontrollers. Also, based on the Arduino workshops forum it appears that the community is very large and very active world wide. Not that Parallax isn't active and world wide, but it hasn't achieved the same level of penetration IMHO.

    Perhaps an interim solution would be to wait a month, and watch to see how many threads on the Propscope pop up. So far, there appears to be about half a dozen threads (I haven't counted, just from what I have seen) the most prominent of which is the thread by BADHABIT in the Propeller forum. Anyway, if there are lots of threads about hacking the Propscope then perhaps it could use a new forum. My main concern is that the current hype will fade away with time while people get used to the Propscope and use it plain vanilla, and as all the bugs get worked out.* Then where will the Propscope forum be?

    *BTW, I don't have a Propscope yet. I'm waiting until I have enough funds and needs to justify the new tool. Just thought I would put my words in context.
  • Patrick TPatrick T Posts: 6
    edited 2009-12-17 21:31
    I always thought the o-scope questions went into the stamps in class forum since it was sold with the understanding signals parts and text.

    - Patrick
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2009-12-17 22:40
    Ken,

    Never second guess yourself...if you've reconsidered I'll blame myself!· wink.gif·· SRLM, please read your tag line again.· tongue.gif

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    Chris Savage

    Parallax Engineering
    Check out the new Savage Circuits TV!
    ·
  • Alex41Alex41 Posts: 112
    edited 2009-12-18 04:38
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) said...
    How about a compromise? We get a lot of posts (spread across many forums) about test equipment and design tools (CAD software, etc.) in general — what to buy, how to use, etc. A Test Equipment and Design Tools forum might not be unreasonable.

    -Phil

    I second the above idea. There is a definite balance between too many forums and not enough. This would allow another forum, but general enough to not be limited to only the new PropScope.

    Alex
  • turbosupraturbosupra Posts: 1,088
    edited 2009-12-22 03:32
    So what's the final verdict Ken?
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2009-12-22 06:58
    This is up to you guys, not me. And it sounds like you want one, so I'll get with the IT Guy right away.

    Ken Gracey
  • Jim EwaldJim Ewald Posts: 733
    edited 2009-12-22 18:58
    The PropScope forum is alive (but very empty). Enjoy!

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    Jim

    Parallax IT Dept.
  • turbosupraturbosupra Posts: 1,088
    edited 2009-12-29 01:42
    Thanks, I just noticed it, haha!
  • James LongJames Long Posts: 1,181
    edited 2009-12-29 04:06
    One thing that should be noted.....if the forum does end up diluting the forum list, it could be combined with something else (maybe sensors).

    I personally think there should be some kind of forum, maybe not specifically for the Propscope.

    Very nice item I must add.

    James L

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    James L
    Partner/Designer
    Lil Brother SMT Assembly Services

    Are you addicted to technology or Micro-controllers..... then checkout the forums at Savage Circuits. Learn to build your own Gizmos!
  • Lucky123Lucky123 Posts: 1
    edited 2010-04-12 08:50
    My vote is with you buddy..
    we need to create a know how among the peoples about that... And for this for need to spread it as we can .... I will try my best to do so...

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    STEVE
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2010-04-15 12:59
    I think that there should be NO separation, just one big Forum, because·so many·post their junk in inappropriate place/s and just do what they feel.
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2010-04-22 13:00
    You're not going to get an argument from me.

    I think I'm going to start posting questions about chicken recipes in the Propeller Forum and household repair questions in the Stamp Forum.
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